Thermostatic control for radiators



May l5. 1928.

Y 1,669,880 E. s. PORTER THERMOSTATIC CONTROL FOR RADIATORS Filed July 27, 192e ,5 ,5gg/J.

nllllllln Patented May 15, 1928.

UNITED STATES f g i 11,669,880 PATENT: OFFICE.

EDWARD s. .PORTER or WASHINGTON, DISTRICT or COLUMBIA.

Application led July 27,

` This invention relates to improvements in controls, particularly for steam heating radiators.

An object of this invention is to provide means foi-'regulating the heating area of a radiator by means of a thermostatic control.

A further object of this invention is to provide a control which is simple to manufacture,`having few mechanical elements in combination therewith.

Another object of this invention is to provide a means to controlthe heatingearea of the radiator particularly through the entrap ping of the condensate in the radiator.

An object of this invention is-to'provide thermostatic meansv Vfor entrapping the condensate in the radiator consisting primarily of arranging within a suitable receptacle, a metallic metal in liquid form such as mercury, the mercury and condensation cooperr atin in such a manner as to regulate the heating area. of the radiator depending on the temperature of theroom that is being heated.

Further objects of this invention will be to provide 4a suitable sealing means in the form of a metallic liquid suchlas mercury, `and eXpansible liquid such as alcohol for the purpose of actuating the mercury' Vsealing means thereby varying the height of the c0ndensate in the "radiator and varying the effective radiating surface ofthe radiator.

Further objects of this invention will appear from the following detailed 'description and from the disclosure in thefsingle sheet Aof drawings which is 'y herewith made a part of this application.

In the drawings,

Fi 1 illustrates a diagrammatic view of 40 a ra iator having in operative combination therewith, a thermostatic control.

Fig. 2 represents a diagrammatic view iny an enlarged form of the liquid valve as shown in the section taken at .0f-2.

Fig. 3 illustrates a diagrammatic view of a modilied form of the radiator and thermostatic control as disclosed in Fi 1.

Numeral 1 designates a ra iator of the i common type used in steam heating, while i0 numeral 2 designates the condensate which accumulates usually at, or near the bottom ot the radiator.

This invention provides a thermostatic means for regulating the amount of heating surface in the radiator. The rise and fall 0f the level of the condensate in the radiator 1926. Serial No. 125,317.

will affect the radiation of theheat, it being understood that the rise and tall of the level complished in this invention by means of suitably locating within the room to be heated or otherwise, ay receptacle for holding a liquid of high specilic gravity such as mercury, the receptaclefto be in open communication with the radiator andthe steam line to the boiler. The receptacle for the mercury is designated by the numeral 3, and the opencommunication therefrom by the numeral 4, numerals 5 and 6 designating the open ymembers or connections leading to the radiators and to thestea-m line connections respectively; the connection 5, it bein understood extends to the lower portion o theradiator where the condensate accumulates. steam line 7 which ordinarily enters the radiator at or near the top thereof as at 8.

The receptacle 3 is adapted, according to thisv invention, to contain an expansible `liquid such as mercury 9, the receptacle 3 being suitably insulated from the `direct'heat of the radiator `or otherwise, by means of an insulating partition 10.

- A suitable dividing element 11 is formed The liney 6 extends to the supply in the open communication between the receptacle 3 and the radiator 1, as clearly disclosed in Figure 2. This dividing element 11 is adapted to extend downward a suitable distance. The receptacle 3 isadapted to have in cooperation therewith,` an adjustable element 12. This element 12 will function to vary the height of the mercuryin the open communicating chambers 13 and 14,

which chambers are separated by means of the partitions 11. It is apparent that the adjusting element `12 will function to set the thermostatic control at any desired tempera-k ture, initially regulating theV height ot' they mercury in the two chambers 14 and 13. f

The mercury in the communicating chamber 13 leading to the steam line 7 will rise to a height depending upon the condensate head in the radiator acting on `the mercury co1- umn in chamber 14, it being understood that the condensate head in chamber 13 should be subtracted from the condensate head in the chamber 14. The maximum head in communicating chamber 14 as controlled by the height of the condensate in the radiator, is

lOl

equal to the head of mercury .in chamber 13 plus thecondensatc head in chamber 13.

Any excess of head in chamber la over the head in chamber 1`3will allow the waterto escape underneath partition 11 into chamber 13, and from thence overibwing into steam supply 7. K p

Fig. 3 represents a slightly modified form of control employing the sealing means or mercury within the open communicating elements located,` between the condensate in the radiator yand an expansible liquid locatedwithin the receptacle 3; theA expansible liquid may be designated by the numeral 15 and. will bek of the nature of alcohol or other suitable expansive liquid, alcohol having approximately 7 times the coefficient of expansion of mercury in addition to its low cost.

In operation this invention provides a thermostatic control whicln will function to automatically vary the heat surface of the radiatortaccording to the variations of temperature in the Aroom to be heated.` As the roomtemperature decreases, the temperature will tend to contract the liquid in the receptacle 3, thereby withdrawing the heavier liquid in chamber 13, and lowering the head in chamber 13, thereby functioning to lower the condensate head1v iny chamber 14, which must always balance the total head in chamber 13, and which, when overbalancing the .total head .in chamber 13 escapes under partition l1, and overiiows to steam ypipe/Z` as above described. 1

As the room temperature increases, the

temperature will tend to expandv the liquid in receptacle 3, thereby forcing some of the heavier liquid in the chambers 13 and. 14,

eii'ectivelyy shuttingtof flow of condensate under partition 11. The condensate in the radiator will build up until a state of equilibrium has been established between. vthe static head` in chambers 13 andl 14, any excess lont which will esca-pe under partition 11 as` above described.

Broadly, this invention therefore,.provides a thermostatic means for controlling the rai diating surface of a radiator, by the variations of room temperatures expanding the liquid in receptacle 3,Y which will function to force the leavi'ei"liquid into various operative relationship within the liquid valve thereby effectively regulating the height of the condensate in the radiator and controlling thefheat radiating surface.

It is to be understood that modifications and substitutions: may be made in the application asy above described within the scope ofthis invention; withouty affectingl the merits of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A method tor' heating rooms` andcontrolling the temperature thereof, consisting of supplying steam to the to of a radiator', collecting, the water of con ensation inI the lower portion ot the radiator, and controlling the relative volumesoii steam andwater inthe radiator,` thereby regulatingtlie heat- Aof supplying. steam! toI the top of. aradi'ator,

collectingthe condensatonin. the lower. portiony of theI radiator and controlling the relative volumes ot steam andwater inthe: ra-

diator through-the medium of the variations inJ temperature oi the. room. y

In testimonyF whereof I aihx my signature.

EDWARDS. IETDBIEBLA` 

